Fire Eel
- In stock, ready to ship
- Inventory on the way
- Live Arrival Guarantee
- All our live fish, shrimp, snails are care with love and passion, when through minimum of 14 days quarantined and shipped from Splashy Fish facility in Springfield, Virginia, USA
This is only apply to live fish order.
What is Our Live Arrival Guarantee?
Benefit from our extensive experience in shipping live fish. In 2021, our records indicated a mere 0.5% dead-on-arrival (DOA) rate for all live fish orders, compared to the industry standard of 1.5%. These numbers translate to only 5 out of 1000 orders experiencing DOA fish.
At Splashy Fish, customer satisfaction is our priority. That's why we provide a 100% Live Arrival Guarantee on all animals shipped via USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Please note - Splashy Fish reserves the right to void Live Arrival Guarantee protection under the following circumstances:
- The customer has chosen USPS First Class Mail as a shipping method.
- The shipping address is a PO Box address
- The order was refused delivery by the customer.
- If the order is returned to the sender for any reason. For instance, an incorrect shipping address, an undeliverable address, etc.
- The order was held for pick up at USPS, UPS, and FedEx offices for longer than 24 hours after the last update on the tracking number.
- The Live Arrival Guarantee claim does not include all the requirements mentioned below
- The Live Arrival Guarantee claim is made after the claim period mentioned below.
- The animals are not in their original packaging
Live Arrival Guarantee Claim Period:
For Live Fish and other invertebrates, one and a half hours (1.5 hours) after the posted delivery time.
For Snails: 48 hours after the posted delivery time.
Steps to claim Splashy Fish's Live Arrival Guarantee:
- Take a picture of the shipping box and the shipping label.
- For live fish and other invertebrates: Please provide two pictures of each bag (containing the dead fish) upon arrival. Ensure the images display the bag in its original, unopened condition with the original rubber band intact
- For Snails: Position the snail in one corner of the tank. If the snail does not move within 48 hours, please take several pictures of the snail's opening
- Send an email to DOA@splashyfishstore.com with the subject line: DOA and Your Order Number, or message us on social media.
- In the body of the email, include your tracking number.
- The claim must be sent within the claim period mentioned above.
After submitting the required information, please allow us 1-3 business days to determine the cause of the issue. If the claim is valid and approved by our team, you will
- Receive a store credit for future purchases, excluding the shipping cost, of the dead-on-arrival fish
If the Live Arrival Guarantee claim does not meet all listed requirements, Splashy Fish reserves the right to reject it.
Shipping live animals and plants is a complex process, and temperature plays a crucial role in ensuring the safe and secure delivery of your order.
If the highest daytime temperature in your location and the lowest nighttime temperature here in Springfield, Virginia—where our facility is situated—fall below 40°F or exceed 90°F, we will proactively delay your order. This measure is taken to prioritize the well-being of the animals and plants.
For the safety of our living cargo and to protect your investment, we retain the right to suspend shipping as necessary due to extreme weather conditions. Our Splashy Fish team will assess the situation and determine if it is unsuitable to ship, considering the safety of the animals.
To stay informed or address any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to our dedicated Splashy Fish Support team via email at support@splashyfishstore.com.
Once our team prints and packs your order, we'll notify you via email. This notification will include your tracking number and the expected arrival day. If you opt for UPS 2 Day shipping, your package should arrive within 2 days after shipment. Similarly, if you choose UPS 1 Day, your order will reach you the day after it is shipped. In the case of orders containing only plants or dry goods, they may be shipped via USPS, provided that this is the selected shipping option during checkout.
We ship all of the customer orders from our warehouse located in Springfield, VA. We pack and ship our orders depending on the orders with the exception of someday we cannot ship out live fish.
All Orders: will be shipped out from Monday to Thursday each week for overnight shipping by UPS.
Sunday: (Splashy Day) Today is the day we let our hard-working team members and our fish to destress and ready for the following week's shipment.
For more information regarding about shipping please visit us our Shipping Policy and Schedule
Bring home one of the most fascinating oddball fish in the freshwater hobby, the Fire Eel (Mastacembelus erythrotaenia). Known for its striking red lateral stripes and snake-like body, this nocturnal beauty hails from the sluggish, plant-rich rivers and floodplains of Southeast Asia. Despite its name, the Fire Eel is not an eel but a spiny eel, part of the Mastacembelidae family, and is admired for its intelligence, behavior, and unique appearance.
This species is ideal for experienced aquarists looking to create a large, well-decorated, and dimly lit aquarium with powerful filtration and specialized care.
At our Splashy Fish tropical fish store, our Fire Eel for sale and other freshwater fish for sale are carefully selected and packed with love! Visit us to buy them online or at our aquarium store in Virginia for more betta fish for sale, freshwater shrimp for sale, live aquatic plants for sale, and aquarium supplies.
Key Features:
- Stunning Appearance: Long, dark body with bold red-orange lateral stripes
- Large & Impressive: Can grow up to 39 inches (100 cm) in length
- Nocturnal Behavior: Hides during the day, active and entertaining at night
- Burrowing Nature: Loves soft sand substrate for digging and wallowing
- Territorial Intelligence: Recognizes keepers and displays individual behavior
Tank & Water Requirements
- Tank Size: 125+ gallons for adults
- Temperature: 75°F – 82°F (24°C – 28°C)
- pH Level: 6.0 – 7.5
- Water Hardness: Up to 18 dGH
- Lighting: Dim or diffused via plants and decor
- Substrate: Soft sand with leaf litter or Indian Almond Leaves
Ensure a tight-fitting lid because Fire Eels are notorious escape artists. Block gaps with sponge or secure covers.
Tank Setup Suggestions
- Soft sand base for burrowing
- PVC pipes, caves, smooth rocks, and driftwood for hiding
- Floating plants to diffuse light
- Blue moonlight for nighttime viewing
- Stable decor: larger Fire Eels may dislodge weak structures
Diet & Feeding
- Fire Eels are carnivorous and prefer a varied diet of frozen or live meaty foods.
- Staple Foods: Bloodworms, white mosquito larvae, brine shrimp
- Larger Treats: Mysis shrimp, chopped krill, prawns, lancefish
- Note: Dried foods are usually ignored; feed frozen for best health
- Feeding Tip: Feed at dusk or under dim lighting to align with natural activity
Tank Mates & Compatibility
- Best Kept With: Peaceful, medium to large tankmates (e.g., Geophagus, Severums, Knifefish, large Gouramis, peaceful Loaches)
- Avoid: Small fish (may be eaten) and aggressive or overly territorial species
- Intraspecies: Best kept singly unless in a very large group (5+) in a massive, well-decorated tank
Breeding (Rare in Captivity)
- Successfully bred only in very large aquariums
- Breeding pairs are usually 20+ inches long
- Spawning occurs in dense vegetation with 800–1200 eggs
- Fry require pristine water and minuscule live foods
- Still considered a rare achievement among hobbyists
Fire Eel Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Fire Eel aggressive?
Fire Eels are generally peaceful, but they can become predatory toward smaller fish, especially at night. While not overtly aggressive, they should be kept with similar-sized or larger, non-aggressive tank mates to avoid accidental predation.
Are Fire Eels rare?
Fire Eels are not considered rare overall, but their populations have declined locally in regions like Cambodia and Thailand due to overfishing. They are still commonly available in the aquarium trade, though large, healthy specimens may be harder to find.
How big of a tank do you need for a Fire Eel?
Fire Eels require a minimum tank size of 75 gallons, but a 120-gallon aquarium or larger is recommended for adult specimens. These fish grow quite large and need plenty of space to swim and hide, so a long, spacious tank with a secure lid is ideal.
